Thomas Peter De Barclay Laslo (left) and Clemet Sulu Fuamatu were granted bail by the ACT Magistrates Courts. Photos: Albert McKnight.
Police allege patrons and staff were assaulted when a brawl involving several bikies broke out in central Canberra on the weekend.
Of the two arrests made so far, one man is alleged to have assaulted three different people, including punching one of his victims in the head five times.
Early on Sunday morning (22 June), a group of interstate outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members were involved in a brawl in Hopscotch bar on Lonsdale Street in Braddon, an ACT Policing spokesperson alleged.
Two patrons and two bar staff members were assaulted before two men fled the scene prior to police arrival, the spokesperson alleged.
It is alleged officers chased one of the men, 40-year-old Thomas Peter De Barclay Laslo from Tarneit in Victoria, on foot to City Walk before arresting him.
Meanwhile, members of the ACT’s bikie-busting Taskforce Invidia went to Hopscotch to review CCTV footage and allegedly identified five known interstate Finks OMCG members.
Police then went to the Canberra Airport on Sunday and arrested 28-year-old Clemet Sulu Fuamatu from Mickleham in Victoria over his alleged role in the brawl.
Both applied for bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (23 June), which was opposed by the prosecution.
The court heard it was alleged Laslo hit a first man in the jaw before he and another person repeatedly hit a second man in the head. He then allegedly hit the first man five times in the face before a broader fight broke out and he hit a third man in the face.
It’s also alleged he threw various items at police while they were chasing him.
The prosecutor said one of the alleged victims was concerned about the unprovoked and violent nature of the assault and, as he was a staff member at Hopscotch, was worried Laslo would return to the bar when he was working.
Laslo’s lawyer, Tom Tiffen from Hugo Law Group, said while the prosecution may make something of his client’s alleged ties to an OMCG, they were just that – “alleged ties”.
He said there was nothing to indicate the alleged offending had any relation to OMCGs nor had police identified themselves when chasing his client on foot.
Magistrate Ian Temby ultimately said Laslo had no history for failing to appear in court and there was a structure in place in Victoria to stop him from getting into more trouble. For instance, he was booked into an anger management course.
The magistrate also said Laslo had the support of his family and worked full-time as a concrete formworker. He granted bail.
When it came to Mr Sulu Fuamatu, prosecutor Ahmad Mufti said several people involved in the brawl were still unidentified and argued there was a risk he would engage with them and hamper the investigation if released on bail.
Magistrate Temby said this was not enough to remand him in custody and granted bail.
Laslo was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, affray, assault by joint commission and resisting a Territory official, while Mr Sulu Fuamatu was charged with affray and common assault.
Neither entered pleas and their matters were adjourned to 14 July. As part of their bail conditions, they are not allowed to enter the ACT except for legal purposes.
The police spokesperson said anyone who witnessed the brawl should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.
